The happy scene on the right was the culmination of over a year's work by the trustees of Faversham Community Gymnastic & Activity Centre, with a large cheque (in both senses) being presented by Sport England. This meant that the new Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee centre would be fully equipped, giving gym club members the facilities and space they had lacked for so long in the old centre. Pictures showing the building of the centre are below.
The new building incorporates all the existing gym activities in a purpose built facility. The main hall is larger than the old one and houses two trampolines sunk to floor level. The weights room has also been made much larger. We opened on 24 February 2003 with almost all new equipment, as much of what we had was in need of replacement. There is also an adventure play area in the same building, open to groups and the public, where children can play safely on purpose built equipment.
The new facilities do not just cater for previous gym club members of all ages, although they have at last got the facilities they need. We are also offering sessions in school time to school groups, both in the gym and adventure play centre, and we are encouraging groups with disabilities and special needs to use the facilities -- something which was impossible in our old building. The new building will encourage more people of all ages to have fun and keep fit, whether as part of the gym classes, weight training and children's activities or as part of other groups using our facilities.
| August 2008. We have already outgrown the existing Centre and it is planned to extend and expand the present facility. Plans are already being drawn up for this to happen | |
| July 2007. In conjunction with Rialto (developers for Fairview Homes) major external work is being carried out to improve the visibility of our location and provide safer access. They have also extended,tarmaced and lit our car park, providing parking for 72 vehicles including 2 disability parking bays. | |
| October 2005. With the help of Brett Construction, who were involved in the original build, we levelled a piece of land to the rear of the building to provide parking for an additional 40 cars. This was done at a cost of £9,000 which was raised by our own members. | |
| January 2003. The Adventure Play construction team work into the evening to build the structure for this side of the new centre. |  |
| January 2003. The gym side of the centre is viewed from the trampoline pits. The 12m x 12m sprung floor will fill most of the foreground while the weights room is behind the window at the back, with the reception and adventure play off to the left. |  |
| January 2003. The gym area viewed from what will be the reception. A full size sprung floor will replace the builders' equipment during the next month with two sunken trampolines in pits to the right and a vault run up behind the pillar on the right. |  |
| December 2002. On a gloomy day the bright colours of the new building stand out, now mostly finished on the outside. Windows will bring daylight into the centre, particularly the cafe area by the Adventure Play section. |  |
| October 2002. The builders are caught in action as the framework is clad. Inside the layout is becoming apparent too as Alison and the architect finalise the plans. |  |
| August 2002. While our members have been enjoying summer activities and the sunshine, the builders have been hard at work and the new centre is really taking shape. |  |
| July 2002. On the day of the Gym Club's annual competiton, the foundations for the new building are being marked out...every day there has been some action on the site. |  |
| June 2002. After the official photos are taken, Bretts get back to work clearing the site |  |
| Gym trustees and representatives from Swale celebrate on site |  |
| Alison Reynolds, Centre Manager, looks at the plans on site with the Mayor of Swale |  |
| The site when the builders moved in...derelict industrial wasteground |  |